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Dunkirk is creating a quite the blockbuster buzz amongst moviegoers and critics. This summer flick is directed by Christopher Nolan and gives a breath of fresh air to the war drama genre with the nonlinear plot line. The groundbreaking film is a visual masterpiece that gives you a perspective of war from land, sea, and air. Dunkirk is rejuvenating and reinventing the war genre where “Saving Private Ryan” left off.

The Critics

With a 93 percent freshness on Rotten Tomatoes, the film is being praised by everyone in the theater’s seats. Critics are raving over Nolan’s direction to stray away from a character driven-plot and rather chose to focus on the idea of pure human survival. Many of the characters are nameless until the end credits. The film is unsympathetic to the personal backstories of these big name actors. To many critics, they felt surprised that Nolan chose this route because he is a director known for a strong backstory.

Some even say that this is may be the first virtual reality film. Many of the shots in the film make the viewer feel literally in position with the other soldiers. It is made to make the viewer “fill-in-the -blanks” in terms of character’s stories. The story is in your own experience upon viewing the movie.

The Actors

Even with little-known information about character’s names or stories, the actors are quite well-known. Tom Hardy, who is a regular in Christopher Nolan’s film, seems to be just another average joe in the film. You can also spot another Nolan veteran, Cillian Murphy adding his finesse to the WWII thriller. As well, Harry Style’s big film debut did not disappoint either. Even with a few recognizable faces, it did not distract from the disconnect of individuality in the film.

The Cons

Many felt that the nonlinear plot was confusing and was difficult to connect to initially. As well, the score for the film was dramatic and sometimes overwhelming at points. With the film being created in such a “virtual reality” based way, many worry how the film will hold in the eyes of the home viewer. It is an experience to have in a theatre because of its ability to capture the viewer through its intense visuals.

The lack of character development left a few wanting a bit more from the film yet, Nolan’s bold choice of focusing on mere human survival is a new take on the war thriller genre.